Pediatrics Flashcards
Neonate = ___
Up to 30 days
Infant = ____
30 days to 1 year
Toddler = ____
1-3 years
Preschool = ____
4-6 years
School Age = ____
6-13 years
Adolescent = _____
13-18 years
PEARLS of pediatric anesthesia
- Neonates do respond to painful stimuli and require anesthesia
- Infants and neonates have the highest adverse event rate
Respiratory system of neonates
Have a proportionately larger head and tongue, narrower nasal passages, an anterior and cephalad larynx, a longer epiglottis, and a shorter trachea and neck
Respiratory system of children under 5
Obligate nasal breathers
The cricoid cartilage is the narrowest part of the airway
Glottis in adults vs. children
Glottis is at C6 in adults and C4 in children
*These anatomical differences help explain why a straight blade is preferred when intubating many pediatric patients
Respiratory system in neonates & infants
- Have weaker intercostal muscles and diaphragms, and fewer alveoli
- Have reduced lung compliance and more compliant chest walls, which is responsible for inspiratory chest wall collapse
- Reduced functional residual capacity
- Higher rates of oxygen consumption
- Hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory drives are not fully developed
- Hypoxia and hypercapnia may depress respiration
Respiratory rate is increased in neonates and gradually falls to adult values by ____.
adolescence
Alveoli fully mature by ___.
age 8
Cardiovascular system of neonates and infants
Have a noncompliant left ventricle, which results in a fixed cardiac stroke volume
Cardiac output is (very) dependent on heart rate
- Bradycardia can lead to hypotension, asystole and potentially death
- Bradycardia can be caused by parasympathetic nervous system, anesthetic overdose or hypoxia
- Unfortunately, the sympathetic nervous system and baroreceptor reflexes are not fully mature
Normal vital signs for a neonate
RR: 40
HR: 140
Arterial BP
- Systolic: 65
- Diastolic: 40
Normal vital signs for a 12 month old
RR: 30
HR: 120
Arterial BP
- Systolic: 95
- Diastolic: 65
Normal vital signs for a 3 year old
RR: 25
HR: 100
Arterial BP
- Systolic: 100
- Diastolic: 70
Normal vital signs for a 12 year old
RR: 20
HR: 80
Arterial BP
- Systolic: 110
- Diastolic: 60
Kidney function usually approaches normal values by ___.
6 months of age
The administration of sodium free fluids may lead to ___.
hyponatremia secondary to limited concentrating ability
Reflux in young infants
Diminished lower esophageal sphincter tone
50% have daily emesis (usually remits by 18 months)
Etiology of juandice
Immature liver cannot process bilirubin from RBC breakdown
Colic occurs in infants ___
< 3 months
Umbilical hernia = ___
Common, often resolve spontaneously
Teeth in pediatric patients
Primary: 7 months to 2 or 3 years
Permanent: 6 years to 20 years
Nervous system anatomically complete at ____.
birth except not all the nerves are myelinated
- Rapid for 2 years
- Complete by 7 years
Primitive reflexes disappear in ___.
few months
Closure of the fontenelles
- Posterior fontanelle closed by 4 months
- Anterior fontanelle closed by 18 months - 2 years
Anatomical location of the cranial sutures in neonates and infants
Neonates produce heat by ____.
metabolism of brown fat (nonshivering thermogenesis)
Pediatric patients lose heat quickly because of their ___.
larger surface area per kilogram, thin skin and low-fat content
Intraoperative hypothermia can occur due to ___.
inadequately warmed operating room environment, administration of room temperature intravenous fluid and dehumidified anesthetic gases
Hypothermia can cause ___
delayed awakening from anesthesia, cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory depression
Anesthesia professionals can prevent intraoperative hypothermia by___.
using warm blankets/bair hugger, covering the patient’s head; and warming the OR, mattress and IV fluids
Fluid Compartments in Pediatrics
- Pediatric patients have a larger ECF compartment and greater TBW (total body water)
- Larger loading dose of water-soluble drugs are required due to dilutional effect lowering plasma drug concentration
- Higher plasma concentrations for lipid-soluble drugs occur due to decreased fat and muscle volume
TBW, ECF and ICF for a premature infant
TBW: 85%
ECF: 60%
ICF: 25%
TBW, ECF & ICF of an term neonate
TBW: 80%
ECF: 45%
ICF: 35%
TBW, ECF & ICF of an infant (1 yr)
TBW: 60%
ECF: 25%
ICF: 35%
TBW, ECF & ICF of an adult
TBW: 60%
ECF: 20%
ICF: 40%
Protein binding in Pediatrics
Total plasma protein levels are lower in infants (reach adult concentrations by 5-6 months of age)
•Protein binding of many anesthetic drugs are lower in young children
Organ development and organ blood flow in Pediatrics
Organ development
•Immature organ systems, metabolic degradation pathways, and blood brain barrier
Organ blood flow
•Greater blood flow to vessel-rich organs
What would the cardiac section of the pedi pre-op assessment include?
- heart murmur
- cyanosis
- hypertension
- exercise intolerance